Inspiring Our Future campaign launches with $340K donation to BMG centre from volunteer team

Special To Midwestern Newspapers

BRUSSELS – The volunteer leaders heading up the Inspiring Our Future capital campaign in support of the renovation of the Brussels, Morris and Grey (BMG) Community Centre have collectively pledged $340,000 to the project.

These personal gifts have been essential to helping kick off the campaign which aims to raise a minimum of $2 million.

The volunteer members of the campaign management team were the first people to believe that it was possible for the commu- nity to come together to raise $2 million to support the major redevelopment of the community centre. Many of the team members have been working together for over five years to make a newly renovated, modern community centre a reality.

The members of the Inspiring Our Future campaign are: Chair Brian TenPas, Co-Deputy Chairs Doug McArter and John van Vliet, Honorary Advisors Joe and Deb Seili and Neil McGavin, Campaign Coordinator Roxane Nicholson, Divisional Chairs Dan Fritz, Leisa Albers, and Michelle Blake and Canvassers Brett and Laura Fischer,

Howick amends clean yards bylaw

KELSEy BENT

kbent@midwesternnewspapers.com

HOWICK TOWNSHIP – The township’s bylaw enforcement officer said complaints regarding the clean yards bylaw are among the most common.

“The clean yards bylaw is one of the more common bylaws that the township receives complaints for, along with the property standards bylaw,” Riley Brugess wrote in his report to council on June 7.

This bylaw was first passed by council on Sept. 5, 2017, and Brugess suggested it needed some updating.

“Section 436 of the Municipal Act permits a municipality to pass a bylaw providing that the municipality may enter on land at any reasonable time for the purpose of carrying out an inspection,” he explained. “In contrast, the Building Code Act directly provides the municipality’s authority to enter land for the purpose of an inspection for a property standards bylaw.”

Brugess recommended council amend the clean yards bylaw to apply this section of the Municipal Act

The proposed amendment will solidify the township’s authority to inspect property for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the clean yards bylaw.

Additionally the amendment speaks to determining compliance with specific directions or orders given to property owners.

The complete amended section of the bylaw states: “Section 436 of the act permits a municipality to pass bylaws providing that the municipality may enter on land at any reasonable time for the purpose of carrying out an inspection to determine whether or not a bylaw passed under the act, or a direction or order made under such a bylaw are being complied with.”

Brugess told council this amendment will ensure that bylaw enforcement can continue to effectively address resident complaints.

The amended bylaw was read three times and passed at the June 7 Howick council meeting.

Kevin Deitner, Jeff McGavin, Steve and Marnie Knight, Jeff Cardiff, and Patricia Beuermann.

This group of volunteers is generously giving their time to ensure that Brussels and the surrounding area has a community centre that serves everyone and will enrich the quality of life in our community for the coming decades. They have been equally generous with their personal donations to the campaign.

Those considering making their own donation to the Inspiring Our Future campaign can rest assured that all the people leading this initiative are confident

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enough in the project to take action themselves.

These volunteers will continue their work seeking donations in the community to support the renovation of the BMG Community Centre over the coming weeks. Members of the community are encouraged to welcome their calls.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Inspiring Our Future campaign and how to support the community centre project can get in touch with Chair Brian TenPas at 519-4920214, Campaign Coordinator Roxane Nicholson at 519-357-6292, or any member of the fundraising team.

Vehicle stolen from school parking lot in North Perth

NORTH PERTH – The Perth County OPP is investigating the theft of a motor vehicle that was recently taken from a school parking lot in the Municipality of North Perth, and another vehicle was left behind.

On June 6 at approximately 1:30 p.m., the victim parked their vehicle in the parking lot of a school located on Perth Road 147, when their vehicle was stolen. The keys were left in the vehicle.

Two Ford Escape sport utility vehicles (one white, and one grey) attended the parking lot. The grey Ford Escape followed the grey Honda after it was stolen, and the 2015 white Ford Escape was left at the scene.

The stolen vehicle is described as a grey 2009 Honda Accord. The vehicle is valued at approximately $6,000.

The Perth County OPP would like to remind citizens to keep all vehicles and buildings locked and report any suspicious activity immediately. Consider installing security features, such as increased lighting, cameras, or alarms.

Anyone with information regarding this or any incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or online at www.opp. ca/reporting Should you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.P3tips.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

Vehicle collides with tractor

NORTH PERTH – One person was injured after a driver drove through a cloud of dust into a farm tractor.

On May 6 at approximately 1:20 p.m., the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police responded to a two-vehicle collision on Perth Line 86 in the Municipality of North Perth.

The investigation indicated that a vehicle ran into the back of a farm tractor after the driver drove through dust that was in the air.

One person was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Ryan Devereaux, 33, of Wroxeter, has

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Continued from page 10 been charged with careless driving.

The accused was issued a provincial notice for the offence.

Listowel resident charged with careless driving

NORTH PERTH – One person has been charged following a single-vehicle collision last week.

On June 8 at approximately 10:20 a.m., the Perth County OPP responded to a single-vehicle collision on Perth Line 86 in the Municipality of North Perth. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that the driver swerved to avoid hitting an animal and drove into the ditch.

The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries.

As a result, a 26-year-old from Listowel has been charged with careless driving. The accused was issued a Provincial Offence Notice for the offence.

Local resident charged with shoplifting

LISTOWEL – One person has been charged after stealing over $100 worth of items from a local business in the Municipality of North Perth.

The Perth County OPP was called to a business on Wallace Avenue North in Listowel on May 31 just after 10 a.m., after a person was witnessed shoplifting.

Serina Rassman, 43, of North Perth, has been charged with theft under $5,000 –shoplifting.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charge.

Ongoing dispute leads to assault charge

NORTH PERTH – On May 28 at approximately 8:30 p.m., members of the Perth County OPP were dispatched to an address on Perth Line 86 in the Municipality of North Perth, for the report of an ongoing dispute.

Officers learned that one person was assaulted. The victim received minor injuries.

Meagan Chamney, 36, of Listowel, has been charged with assault. The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charges.

Driver charged with impaired in Listowel

LISTOWEL – On May 5 just after midnight, an officer from the Perth County Ontario OPP was on general patrol and observed a vehicle in a parking lot on Mitchell Road South in Listowel, with the driver’s side door open.

When the officer approached the vehicle, they observed a lone male sleeping in the driver’s seat. Upon speaking with the driver, it became apparent they had consumed alcohol and were displaying signs of impairment. A roadside-screening device was administered. The driver was placed under arrest and transported to a local OPP detachment for further testing.

William Lowe, 21, of Mapleton, has been charged with operation while impaired –blood alcohol concentration (80 plus). The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charge.

Stunt driving charge laid near Listowel NORTH PERTH – The Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged a Walton resident after they were speeding more than 60km/h over the limit in the Municipality of North Perth.

On May 30 at approximately 5 a.m., police stopped a vehicle on Perth Road 147 in North Perth after it was found to be travelling more than 140km/h in an 80km/h limit zone.

A 21-year-old resident of Walton has been charged with race motor vehicle – excessive speed.

A 30-day-driving suspension and 14-day vehicle impoundment were initiated as per statute. The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford at a later date to answer to the charge.